Mountain with group of inhabitants -sof intro
23 ft


Village- cargo cult leader
31 ft


Cases of money
45 ft


Villages in religious service
61 ft


6 am: villagers climbing mountain
68 ft


scenes at top -religious ceremony
76 ft


CS villagers
84 ft


cargo leader speaks to the "world" natives strap markers to poles
97 ft


natives strap markers to poles and struggle down hill
107 ft


CS natives down mountain
113 ft


villagers enter village with markers
130 ft


SOF was village
139 ft



Initials


FURTHER DOPE ON COMMENTARY

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Three concrete survey markers have been removed from a mist-shrouded mountain in Papua New Guinea by members of a "cargo cult" who believe their action will lead to tribal prosperity.

The cult grew after an American survey team erected the markers in 1962. Since that time, according to cult leaders, tribes in the area have known nothing but hardship -- crops have failed and game has dropped away. They believe that the survey markers held the secret of prosperity and only their removal would pave the way for a better life.

Headquarters of the cult is in villages around Mt Turo in a mountainous region of Papua New Guinea, rarely visited by white travellers. Cult leaders displayed nearly $30,000 (Aust) gathered from adherents. They say this is being sought by an American church group to "promote world peace."
The cult gathered for special prayers at the foot of the mountain before claiming 4000 feet to the summit and removing the last of the three concrete markers. Removal of the first two markers filed to bring instant prosperity for the tribe, but cult leaders say that progress will be steady now that the mountain has been cleared.